The two windows in the North Transept Gallery depict the Angels of Faith
and Hope. Each Angel carries a shield bearing the appropriate symbol - a
cross and an anchor respectively - they have eyed wings, richly decorated
robes, they are placed on foliate red and blue backgrounds, and each is
surrounded by a circle of briar stems and a pattern of Tudor roses. Each
window is a cinquefoil with an overall diameter of approximately 2m with
the inner circle measuring approximately 1m. These richly decorated and
finely painted works were made by the studio of Charles Eamer Kempe and
installed in April 1899.

Prior to conservation, these windows were suffering from serious structural
instability, with severe bulding of the main panels, many pieces of glass
protruding from the flanges of the lead and an alarming mobility which made
one fear that the glass could actually be blown inwards during a gale.

Some glass had cracked with the stress of the deformation and there were
various previous repairs including pellet holes filled with putty and
insertions of wrongly coloured or poorly painted glass.

However, the structural problem was the one that necessitated urgent action,
and naturally the opportunity was taken to effect these minor repairs at
the same time, not to mention the careful removal of the accumulated grime
of nearly a century. The conservation policy can be summarised as follows:

A - To make the windows structurally sound

B - To retain original glass wherever possible ( consistent with C )

C - To restore the windows to an attractive condition by replacing
conspicuous previous repairs and shattered glass

D - To clean the windows for aesthetic reasons and to remove deposits
which may in the long term contribute to the deterioration of
the painted detail

The panels were removed to the workshop and wax rubbings made to record
the original pattern of leads, carefully annotating the varying widths and
other information needed for correct reassembly. Only then could the
panels be dismantled by careful removal of the old lead, solder and sealant.
Each individual piece of glass was then cleaned and each damaged piece of
glass assessed to decide the appropriate treatment.

Where individual pieces of glass had simple cracks with no fragments missing,
the pieces were edge-bonded using a silicon adhesive to give a flexible bond.
Where glass was heavily shattered, a new piece was made using glass
matching the original as closely as possible, in colour, texture and quality
and with glass paint and silver stain applied in a style to match the
original work. In some cases it was possible to retain one section of the
original piece and replace only part.

Where previous insertions were conspicuous by the poor colour match and/or
poor quality of glass painting they were replaced as described below. The
panels were then reglazed in lead came to match the original in width and
profile and were soldered and sealed with traditional putty cement.
During installation a specially made support bar was introduced to give
additional support at the join between the centre circle and surrounding
petals. It is unusual for windows of this size to have no such support and
the design was based on structural supports used in similar windows of the
period.

RECORD OF INDIVIDUAL PIECES OF GLASS BONDED OR REPLACED

unptd = unpainted

bdr = border

bkgd = background

Location

New glass replacingprevious repairs

New glass replacingbroken pieces

Original glass bonded

HOPE

Centre Circle

1 bkgd (red)

1 bdr (stems)

1 bkgd (red)

Five Petals

3 bkgd (blue)

5 bkgd (blue)

7 bkgd (blue)

1 bdr (foliate)

1 bdr (red unptd)

3 bdr (red unptd)

1 patch in bdr

1 bdr (foliate)

1 stem

1 leaf

FAITH

Centre Circle

2 drapery

1 bdr (stems)

2 bdr (red unptd)

Five petals

3 bkgd (blue)

4 bkgd (blue)

8 bkgd (blue)

1 bdr (foliate)

2 bdr (red unptd)

1 bdr (red unptd)

1 bdr (red unptd)

1 patch in bdr

1 rose

2 stems with thorns

Totals:

14

22

21 bonded

Where new glass replaces breakages, these were approximately 50% multiple
stress cracking and 50% shattering caused by pellets.

A total of 36 new pieces have been made and, from this analysis, it can be
seen that the great majority (27) are in the background or border, 5 are
parts of the decorative briar ( a rose, a leaf and 3 pieces of stem ) and
only 2 are part of the main subject, i.e., two pieces of the drapery of
Faith. These two new pieces ( and also the one new rose ) are dated by tiny
numbers 1993 inscribed on the reverse with a diamond.

Plate 1

These photographs show two pieces of glass from the shoulder area of the
cloak of the Angel of Faith. The lower section in each is the same original
piece of glass from Kempe's Studio, on the left the upper piece is a poor
quality previous repair with painted detail already partially lost through
incorrect firing. On the right, the upper piece is a 1993 replacement by
Stained Glass Design Partnership. First the glass is matched for colour and
texture and the required shape is cut. Then the linework is applied using a
long haired sable brush and a pigment of iron oxide and ground which has to
be kilnfired at the appropriate temperature. Then the shading is applied and
fired, and finally the silver stain. This means that a silver chemical is
painted on parts of the back of the gass and on firing imparts the golden
yellow colour which Kempe frequently used for colouring hair, haloes and
crowns. In these transept windows, stain is used for many details, including
the cloak pattern detailed here, the angels' wings, the briars' thorns and
most importantly, the anchor of Hope and the cross of Faith.

Plate 2

The alarming report presented by Stained Glass Design Partnership in October
1991 on the poor condition of the two windows in the Transept Gallery
stirred us into fund-raising activity. The Kirk Session diverted part of
Mr. Alec Cadger's legacy, and Scottish Churches Architectural Heritage
Trust awarded a grant. Friends ( and friends of Friends! ) responded well
to the appeal in the 1992 autumn newsletter, and the target figure for one
window (£3,384) was met. An anonymous Friend has made an interest-free
loan of the amount of the second window, while we wait for Historic Scotland
to pay out their agreed grant.

The two windows were removed during September 1992 and the holes were
boarded up. The windows were rededicated at the morning service on 10th
October 1993. The Secretary of the Friends, David Keddie, preached, and the
windows were symbolically 'returned' by a council member, Dr. Douglas
Murray ( the representative of the Principal of Glasgow University ) in
the unavoidable absence of the Vice President.

On the 7th October, the Presbytery of Glasgow had consummated our first
union - with Elderpark Macgregor Memorial Church. This special service
provided an ideal opportunity for recommitment and rededication of
the members of the United Govan Old:

Let us rededicate ourselves to God our Father,
and to one another in the united charge of Govan Old,
and recommit ourselves to serving our neighbours,
and visitors to this ancient place of worship.